India First: What led to Ajit Pawar's jet crash? Aviation probe body investigates

This India First special report provides a factual account of the fatal aircraft crash involving Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. On Wednesday at 08:44 hours, a Learjet 45 originating from Mumbai crashed at the threshold of the Baramati airport tabletop runway. All five individuals on board, including the Deputy Chief Minister, two pilots, a personal security officer, and a cabin crew member, were killed instantly. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a probe, analysing the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder. Aviation experts examine technical factors such as low visibility, the absence of instrument landing aids, and potential stalling during the final approach. The incident has triggered political discourse, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responding to demands from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation. While opposition leaders from the TMC and Congress raise safety concerns, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar has characterised the event as an accident. The program details the ongoing investigation into the technical parameters of this aviation tragedy.